Lawyer for DUI with Nonserious Personal Injury in Tampa Florida

If you have been arrested for DUI with nonserious personal injury in Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, certain enhanced penalties apply based on the harm caused by the DUI. Under Florida law, the DUI charge can be enhanced based on the fact that personal injury occurred, even if that injury is not deemed to be "serious" and even if you have no prior record. Contact a Tampa DUI Attorney at the Sammis Law Firm to discuss fighting this very serious criminal charge of DUI with nonserious personal injury under Florida law.

The criminal charge of DUI that causes personal injury to another (when that injury is not deemed to be "serious bodily injury") is a first degree misdemeanor punishable by up to (12) twelve months in jail and a $1,000 fine (instead of six months in jail for afirst DUI without any personal injury or property damage or nine months in jail for asecond DUI without any personal injury or property damage).

For the criminal offense of DUI with nonserious personal injury in Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, certain defenses may be available because of the fact that an accident occurred:

• Accident Report Privilege -Privilege provided by Florida Statute to information provided during the course of an accident or crash investigation often leads to statements made after the accident being excluded at trial;
• Field Sobriety Exercises - When a driver is asked to perform field sobriety exercises after a car accident, the results are not accurate to the extend they are impacted by the driver being "shook up" or injured from the accident;
• Breath Test- if the air bags in the driver's vehicle were deployed during the accident many experts believe that this fact alone can cause the breath test machine to record a higher and inaccurate reading; and
• Wheel Witness - If you exited the vehicle after the accident before the police arrived on the scene, then they will have a more difficult time proving that you were the driver, particularly if you did not make any admissions that you were driving or if those admissions are thrown out under the accident report privilege.

If you have been arrested in Tampa or Hillsborough County, FL, for DUI, contact an experienced attorney to discuss ways to fight this serious charge of DUI with nonserious personal injury. Call 813-250-0500 to discuss the circumstances of your DUI case in Tampa today.